THE LEAD: WILDFIRES RAGING IN CALIFORNIA, BEARING DOWN ON SUBURBS

Freeways and suburbs are now within range of the California wildfires. (Image: Fox screengrab)

Wildfires have erupted across southern California and the Brush Burning Index measured Wednesday was the highest it’s ever been.

CNNreports, “More than 100,000 acres in Southern California have burned with little containment. Overworked firefighters caught a little bit of a break Wednesday when the winds eased somewhat, but the forecast for the next three days was bad news on top of bad news.”

Winds will pick up to 64 mph before they slow down, humidity will be less than 10% and red flag warnings will be in effect through Saturday night.

The Los Angeles Times reported early Thursday that the fires have closed sections of the 101 freeway.

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DEMOCRATS CALL FOR FRANKEN TO RESIGN AS ALLEGATIONS MOUNT

Al Franken is expected to announce a decision on his future today. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The Senate’s Democratic women led a call Wednesday for embattled Sen. Al Franken (Minnesota) to step down amid mounting allegations of sexual misconduct. A majority of Senate Democrats had joined them by the end of the day.

Minnesota Public Radio reported yesterday that Franken would announce a decision on his future today.

“Enough is enough,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said at a news conference, as reported by The Washington Post. “We need to draw a line in the sand and say none of it is okay, none of it is acceptable. We as elected leaders should absolutely be held to a higher standard, not a lower standard, and we should fundamentally be valuing women. That is where this debate has to go.”

TODAY IN A TWEET

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked on December 7, 1941, bringing the United States fully into World War II.

UCLA STUDENTS UNHAPPY WITH SCHOOL’S COMMUNICATION OVER WILDFIRES

UCLA campus in calmer times (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

As they focus on final exams and winter break, UCLA students are expressing their anger and frustration over the Los Angeles school’s communication and response around the so-called “Skirball fire” burning near campus.

The Los Angeles Timesreports that, “The Undergraduate Students Assn. Council and Graduate Students Assn. started a petition that has been signed by more than 10,000 individuals and will be sent to administrators Thursday.”

Saying that Wednesday was “a day of great anxiety, tumult and stress for us all. Despite fearing for our safety, we were left in a state of constant limbo by the University, its staff and faculty,” the petition states. “Students were expected to decide between fulfilling academic and employment responsibilities and putting themselves in harm’s way — a decision no student should ever have to make.”

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: 5 STRESS RELEASE TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL STUDYING

Stress, stress and more stress. Otherwise known as finals week. (Image: Unsplash)

Finals week can really take a toll on a student’s stress levels. There’s so much to do so that you feel properly prepared for finals week. For some students, finals week is packed with written exams. For others, you might have to give a presentation to your class. Still others might have to complete projects to complete their course or even have to do all three: exams, presentations, and projects.

It’s Thursday and winter break is getting closer. But don’t worry, we’re going to be Morning Scoopin’ all the way up ’til Christmas, so you’ll have something to talk to your family about besides your grades